Earlier this week, we reported that Warner Bros. acquired Dungeons & Dragons Online developer Turbine. The financial terms of the deal were never disclosed, but a recent report from The Boston Globe (via Boston.com) cites a "source close to the negotiations" who indicates that the deal could be worth a total of around $160 million. This includes "sums to be paid to Turbine shareholders in future years if the company meets certain financial targets," although those targets were not outlined.
Both sides seem to be pretty pleased with the deal. Turbine gets huge backing and resources from a major media firm, while Warner Bros. adds yet another top-notch developer to its stable. "I view this as Hollywood coming to Boston," said Turbine's chief executive Jim Crowley, who added that the deal emphasizes Boston's growing status as a game development hub.
Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter noted that Warner has been making some great moves of late. "The developers they're buying are first-rate," he said. "It's showing they're really interested in quality."
